Blizzard Entertainment Showcases World of Warcraft at E3 2004Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 @ 02:41:06 pm E.S.T
LOS ANGELES - May 12, 2004 - Today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Blizzard Entertainment(R) showcased "World of Warcraft(TM)," its upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the rich fiction of the "Warcraft(R)" universe. Additionally, visitors to the show had the opportunity to play the critically acclaimed closed-beta version of the game and experience the vibrant world of Azeroth firsthand.
In "World of Warcraft," players assume the roles of legendary Heroes and interact with thousands of other players online as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Whether journeying together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory. Scheduled for simultaneous release in both the United States and Korea at the end of 2004, the game is currently undergoing closed beta testing in both regions.
"We're pleased to announce that `World of Warcraft' is nearing completion," said Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment president and co-founder. "When we set out to create a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, our goal was to give players an incredibly dynamic online gaming experience filled with endless possibilities while expanding the scope of the `Warcraft' universe. We look forward to accomplishing this goal with the release of `World of Warcraft' later this year."
Building on the success of the Warcraft series, Blizzard plans to expand the MMORPG genre by offering a deep, immersive, user-friendly experience that will appeal to both veteran gamers and casual players alike.
Key features in the game include:
- Immense, detailed world spanning miles of terrain and featuring hundreds of familiar locations throughout the rich "Warcraft" universe, as well as all-new, uncharted territories.
- Thousands of quests that drive gameplay and provide countless opportunities for adventure and heroism.
- Regular content updates created by an ongoing live development team that continuously designs new lands, quests, and monsters.
- Thousands of items, including rare and unique weapons and armor with which to customize your character's appearance and abilities.
- Numerous character classes, each with its own distinctive style of play and multiple paths for development.
- A revolutionary secondary-skill system that allows players to create truly original characters with unique combinations of abilities.
- Multiple races to choose from, including Night Elves, Humans, Orcs, Tauren, Dwarves, Undead, Trolls, and Gnomes.
- Several personal modes of transportation, including horses, wolves, and more.
- Quick and easy travel throughout the world aboard Gryphons, Wyverns, Ships, and Zeppelins.
- Instanced zones that create personal combat and adventure experiences for you and your companions.
"World of Warcraft" takes place three years following the aftermath of "Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne(TM)," when a great tension has settled over the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the various races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and terrifying, have arisen to plague the world once again. Players must explore the lands of Azeroth, forge fellowships with other players, and build their strength in order to prevail.
Since its debut in 1994, the #1-selling "Warcraft" series has won industry acclaim and has shattered sales records worldwide with over 14 million copies sold(a). In 1995, Blizzard followed the well-received "Warcraft: Orcs and Humans(TM)" with the highly acclaimed "Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness(TM)," considered by many critics to be one of the best games ever made. In 2002, Blizzard expanded the boundaries of the epic "Warcraft" universe with the release of "Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos(TM)." This third chapter in the legendary saga quickly became the fastest-selling PC game ever(a) and has since garnered numerous Game of the Year awards.
Best known for blockbuster hits including the "Warcraft," "StarCraft(R)," and "Diablo(R)" series, Blizzard Entertainment (http://www.blizzard.com), a division of Vivendi Universal Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard's track record includes eight #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's free Internet gaming service Battle.net(R) reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users. Posted By: Adam Paoli - 157 Reads
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